Author Archives: Ron Miksha
Rooftop Bees
There’s a jolly fat man up on the roof. With a smoker and hive tool. Rooftop beekeeping seems modern, trendy, and new, but it’s been happening for generations. Ever since homes had rooftops. I’m surprised there isn’t a Rooftop Beekeepers … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Yards, Culture, or lack thereof, Humour, Outreach, Save the Bees
Tagged Bee Yards, Einstein, Laureen Harper, New York City, rooftop beekeeping
4 Comments
Dead bee, in the middle of the ‘shield…
A few days ago, I had a road trip that took me two hours from my home in Calgary. Flying low at 130 kph, I expected to whack a lot of bees on the forehead of my van, but I … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Yards, Beekeeping, Culture, or lack thereof, Humour, Strange, Odd Stuff
Tagged Alberta, dead bees, dead skunk, windshield bees
2 Comments
Canola: Canada’s Yellow Carpet
Yesterday I wrote about honey that hurries towards granulation. Canola (the honey plant formerly known as rapeseed) is our local example of quick-setting honey. Canola honey is nice: white and mild with a slight minty flavour. I like it but … Continue reading
Posted in Honey Plants
Tagged Alberta, Canada, canola, glucose, granulation, map, rape seed
2 Comments
Can’t Get it out of the Comb?
The American Bee Journal published a timely piece in their August issue. It just hit my mailbox. The article is about avoiding granulated honey in your extracting frames. It’s written by your favourite bee-blogger. Me. I’m not going to repeat … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Climate, Commercial Beekeeping, Honey
Tagged American Bee Journal, beekeeping, fructose, glucose, granulation, honey
10 Comments
Bird-brained Hunting Partner
Scientists may have proven that African Honeyguide birds “communicate” with their human partners. You have probably already heard about this, as it’s been reported this week in Zaire’s Times, the New York Times, The New Yorker, and fine papers everywhere. … Continue reading
Posted in Ecology, Genetics, Hives and Combs
Tagged Africanized honey bees, Brazil, Carniolan honey bees, Central Europe, evolution, honeyguide
2 Comments
The Greatest Show on Earth
My home town – Calgary, Alberta, Canada – hosts an annual 10-day cowpoke fest called the Calgary Stampede, aka, “The Greatest Show on Earth”. I’m not a cowboy, but I’ve been lucky enough to help friends with spring branding and … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Friends, Outreach
Tagged bee, Calgary Bee Club, Calgary Stampede
1 Comment
Bees Do Do-Do
Diapers for bees? Some folks stopped me when I was leaving an apiary that I once had in a Florida orange grove. They didn’t own the grove, but their house was within fifty yards. They told me that my bees … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Yards, Beekeeping, Commercial Beekeeping, Humour, Strange, Odd Stuff
Tagged bee crap, Massachusetts
15 Comments
Falling Honey Price Makes National News
Something in the news caught my attention. The falling price of honey is now a national news item. We noticed that prices began falling a year ago, when wholesale prices started their tumble from $2.25 to $1.25. Now even the … Continue reading
Posted in Beekeeping, Commercial Beekeeping
Tagged business of beekeeping, honey prices, Manitoba
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Elderberry Honey
Yesterday I wrote about a lovely honey farm called Arlo’s which is near Kelowna, British Columbia. The farm produces a variety of noms (specializing in garlic) but there is a large well-kept apiary, too. I asked beekeeper Helen if she … Continue reading
Posted in Honey, Honey Plants
Tagged Arlo's Honey, British Columbia, elderberry, honey varieties, Kelowna
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Dropping into Sunshine Valley
My hometown – Calgary, Alberta, Canada – is having a much needed wet spell. In fact, there has been some ghastly local flooding which I’ll cover in a future blog. Lucky for me, I am a few hundred kilometres farther … Continue reading
Posted in Bee Yards, Beekeeping, Ecology, Friends, Save the Bees
Tagged Arlo's Honey, British Columbia, Kelowna, marketing honey, Okanagan
5 Comments
Bad Beekeeping Blog 